The Textiles Exports Task Force, led by Commerce Secretary Shri Sunil Barthwal, met on June 10, 2025, in Delhi to discuss strategies for enhancing India's textile exports and addressing sector issues through stakeholder collaboration. The first meeting of the Task Force on Textiles Exports was held under the Chairmanship of Commerce Secretary, Shri Sunil Barthwal, at Vanijya Bhawan in Delhi on 10th June 2025 to discuss issues & strategies for enhancing textiles exports from India.
The primary objective of setting up the Textiles Task Force is to create a unified platform for addressing critical issues concerning the textile sector by involving all relevant stakeholders. It would lead to active collaboration amongst all stakeholders to help resolve issues and formulate strategies for enhancing India’s share of Textile exports in Global markets. The discussions during the meeting covered matters and issues pertaining to the entire textile value chain. This included issues related to the upgradation of ESG infrastructure in garment manufacturing units, use of renewable energy, European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), strengthening of e-commerce for export growth and simplifying regulatory framework, labour, cost competitiveness for productivity enhancement, skilling, Branding, suggestions regarding Interest Subvention Schemes, assistance for Certification & Testing, collateral Support for export Credit for MSME Exporters, RoDTEP / RoSCTL / Duty Drawback, PM MITRA Parks, Development of new Jute Diversified Products (JDPs), Separate HS codes for GI Products, productivity enhancement of natural fibres such as jute and matters pertaining to the Export Promotion Mission being set up by Department of Commerce apart from other textiles export related issues.
The meeting was attended by Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri L Satya Srinivas, Special Secretary & Financial Advisor, Department of Commerce Ms Arti Bhatnagar, Additional Secretary and Director General, DGFT, Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary Ministry of Textiles, Shri Rohit Kansal along with officials from related Departments & Ministries, Export Promotion Councils, Industry Associations and Exporters. Representatives of the various Textiles Export Promotion Councils and Industry Associations and their Exporter members provided their views and suggestions on the issues discussed. As an outcome of the deliberation, it was decided by the Chair that relevant sub-task forces would be formed on the issues. The sub-task force shall be led by the concerned Ministry along with participants from Export Promotion councils and the Industry to work on and provide actionable recommendations to the Task Force. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work collaboratively towards creating a road map for achieving the Textiles Export targets and the Viksit Bharat Vision for 2047.
Source: SME street
The minister, on a four-day visit to Switzerland and Sweden, said discussions on 90% of content were complete on India-EU FTA, with services and rules of origin negotiations slated to start from Monday. However, he said, key issue to be addressed is non-tariff barriers to make it easy to do business. India is open to ease the quality control order (QCQ) framework for "trusted partners", producing good quality products, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has said. The minister, on a four-day visit to Switzerland and Sweden, said discussions on 90% of content were complete on India-EU FTA, with services and rules of origin negotiations slated to start from Monday. However, he said, key issue to be addressed is non-tariff barriers to make it easy to do business.
Source: The Economic Times
The move comes on top of similar instructions to various ministries and departments earlier this fiscal to front-load their capex, aimed at supporting economic growth. The finance ministry is nudging large central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) and key government agencies to boost their capital expenditure (capex) in this financial year, said a senior official, amid scepticism over a broad-based rebound in private investments given the global turmoil. The move comes on top of similar instructions to various ministries and departments earlier this fiscal to front-load their capex, aimed at supporting economic growth.
Source: The Economic Times
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal anticipates India's goods and services exports to surpass USD 900 billion in 2025-26, even amidst global economic uncertainties. Despite challenges like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Red Sea crisis, India's exports reached a record USD 825 billion in 2024-25. India's goods and services exports during 2025-26 are expected to cross USD 900 billion despite the global economic uncertainties, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. Despite uncertainties due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas war and the Red Sea crisis, the country's overall exports touched an all-time high of USD 825 billion in 2024-25 against USD 778 billion in 2023-24. "We have crossed USD 825 billion exports last year, we are surely to cross USD 900 billion this year in all this global turmoil," he has said here while addressing the Indian business delegation last night. The minister is here on an official visit to meet his Swedish counterpart and companies for promoting trade and investments between the two countries. Apex exporters' body FIEO has projected that the country's overall goods and services exports are expected to grow by over 21 per cent year-on-year to USD 1 trillion during 2025-26.
Source: The Economic Times
According to government data, India’s retail inflation dipped to an over six-year low of 2.82% in May due to subdued food prices, remaining below RBI’s median target of 4% for the fourth consecutive month. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked1,337.39 points to80,354.59 in early trade on Friday (June 13, 2025), while the Nifty tumbled415.2 points to 24,473. File | PhotoCredit: The Hindu Rupee declined 56 paise to 86.08 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Friday (June 13, 2025) due to a spike in global oil prices and a firm dollar amid rising tensions in the Middle East following a fresh Israel attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. A weak opening in domestic equity markets and heavy FII outflows further contributed to the fall in the local unit, forex traders said.
Source: Times of India
According to details surfaced on Thursday, the imposition of an 18% sales tax on imported yarn under the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) has led to a significant surge in the prices of local yarn in the Sootar Mandi. Yarn prices in the local Sootar Mandi have increased by up to 20% due to the new tax measures.
The increase in yarn prices will adversely affect powerloom operations across the region.
Source: SAAM News
The clothing and textile sector has a critical role to play in South Africa’s economic recovery and re-industrialisation efforts, says Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield. He was addressing the Annual General Meeting and 20-year anniversary of the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster held at UVU Africa in Cape Town. Whitfield highlighted some key targets of the government which are aimed at revitalising the South African economy. Among these is the creation of 100 000 new direct jobs in manufacturing, a 4.1% growth in manufacturing exports and a 3% average annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the current term of government. He said that under the Government of National Unity, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) is advancing a bold, coordinated industrial strategy - one the builds real momentum behind inclusive economic growth and job creation. However, government alone cannot achieve sector revitalisation. This, according to Whitfield, requires collaboration with key stakeholders, through platforms such as clusters, on factory floors, in skills development hubs, and within local ecosystems that are solving problems and scaling practical solutions every day. “The Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster (CCTC) is not just a regional initiative; it is a catalyst. Through shared services, coordinated skills training, and supplier development, this cluster is helping to build a stronger, more competitive, and more sustainable industry from the ground up. “It is strengthening local supply chains, enhancing productivity, and enabling firms, large and small, to respond to global market demands with agility and innovation,” he said. He said that working with all its key partners through the Retail–Clothing Textile Footwear Leather Master Plan, government is committed to doing the work necessary to deal with the trade imbalance that has resulted in the staggering 223% rise of imports within the sector. “We must boost export capacity, focusing on quality, reliability, and compliance, to reach key global markets with premium finished goods. We need to be ready, on standards, on delivery, on traceability. “And we must shift from being exporters of raw input to suppliers of premium, finished product. The road ahead is clear, and the groundwork is already in place. “Through collaboration, innovation, and continued investment in people and partnerships, we can ensure that this sector not only survives but thrives.”
Source: SA News
